Pastor Presley Smith leaving the the Trelawny Parish Court on Wednesday.
the church in question
Sadly as if the fall from grace is not bad enough and perceived to have brought shame and disgrace on his church, it is even worse when the pastor in question literally stumbles infront the hallowed halls of justice it is seen by some as a sign of failure in the sight of God.
In a follow-up to a previous post from GLBTQ Jamaica and from HERE this matter raised many eyebrows in church circles and given the succession of awful church'clerical abuse of men and women mostly since this year. A 27 year old pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill Trelawny has been relieved of duties after he was charged with sexual assault & buggery of a minor being a fifteen year old boy. Percy Smith has been slapped with buggery, gross indecency and grievous bodily harm, the acts allegedly occurred between 2016 to earlier this year. In a press release yesterday the Administrative Bishop of the church Reverend Wellesley Blair confirmed that Smith was removed from conducting anymore pastoral duties, he said the church disassociates itself from immoral, unlawful or reprehensible acts unbecoming of a pastor; he said the church is willing to cooperate with the investigators in whatever appropriate or is necessary and that the church is also expressing sympathy to the family affected, the accused pastor is to face the court sometime this week.
The Star reported today that:
Presley Smith, the pastor of the New Testament Church of God in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, stumbled badly as he made his way to court on Wednesday.
The clergyman who was arrested and charged with buggery, indecent exposure and grievous sexual assault last week, had a large towel covering his face which may have impacted his visibility. As he was ushered in the courthouse, Smith hit his foot against the step and stumbled into a metal gate.
Smith is accused of molesting a 15 year old schoolboy, who is reportedly a member of his congregation. Reports are that Smith baptised the youngster just weeks ago.
When Smith arrived at the entrance of the Trelawy Parish Court in the back of a police car at approximately 10:10 a.m., a large crowd, inclusive of some of his church members, had gathered there to get a glimpse of him. However, the police quickly ushered him into the building.
When Smith re-emerged from the courthouse, with the towel still covering his face and his hands still bound, some members of his congregation began crying while others turned away their faces, sobbing quietly. He was quickly taken away in a waiting police car.
A court official told THE STAR that Smith was offered bail in the sum of $450,000 and is scheduled to return to court on June 22.
ENDS
also see:
Labourer suffer near two years in prison on false accusation of buggery - DNA shows boy was molested by a family member (Jamaica Observer)
I Bet Deafening Silence from Religious Anti Gay Voices ...... Preacher served summons during service for .......
Tension at Riverton SDA Church board as member accused of sexual assault is still active and FAME FM’s ‘Uncensored’ radio show conflates homosexuality, paedophilia with transgenderism
Another St Thomas Pastor Accused of Rape ........... Where are Anti Gay Religious Groups?
Blakka Ellis on "Jamaica a christian country?"
More Pastoral Inappropriateness & Under-aged Victims... Silence from The Selective Religious Anti Gay
Sodomy is an Issue for Teens says Jamaicans for Justice Interim Chairman
Disturbing Paedophile Case & Conflation of Same Gender Sex with Abuse
Allegations of St Catherine Teacher fondling boys makes tabloid headlines again
Concerned sources claim that ... Boys kissed, fondled by male teacher
and
The question of the age is why are so many pastors interfering with minors while clothing themselves in piety? (see: Is the pope serious about confronting child abuse? .... the question of the age)
More anon
Peace & tolerance
H
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